"Endless Winter Snow"

3.17.2009

Snow Alert -
Avalanche Warnings -

Ok,,,, so I should have posted this pic on Valentines Day

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Freeride World Tour
The Nissan Freeride de Tignes, the third stage of the Freeride World Tour, took place on the impressive Grand Balme face, left untouched for this competition. After patiently awaiting the best conditions for the competition, the organizers and those from the Tignes resort provided an amazing playground for the world’s elite to reveal their talent. Following the Nissan Freeride de Tignes, the announcement was made for those qualified for the grand finale of the Freeride World Tour March 21st, the mythical Nissan Xtreme de Verbier

French domination with Xavier de Le Rue (snowboard) and Caroline Meynet (ski) The French snowboarder, Xavier de Le Rue, took his first victory of the season reinforcing his top spot of the Freeride World Ranking. Among the first to head down the slope, the Freeride World Champion 2008 had an exceptional run recognized by the judges and spectators gathered at the foot of the magnificent Grand Balme face. The Austrian Max Zipser took second with a well-thought run after several podiums in Freeride World Qualifier events. Alex Coudray also impressed the media and spectators, thus was given the Media Judges Award.

Caroline Meynet also from France took her first major victory of her career. Using her technical talent, she was able to beat out the leaders of the Freeride World Ranking. With a powerful runs and perfectly mastered jumps, Marja Persson (SWE, 2nd) and Elyse Saugstad (USA, 3rd), Freeride World Champion 2008, were not able to steal the spotlight from Caroline.

In the men’s ski competition, the young Austrian Matthias Haunholder also took his first victory on the Freeride World Tour after having had an impressive season at the qualifier level in 2008. This skier from Fieberbrunn won by a landslide ahead of Thomas Diet (FRA), who also achieved his career best result. From Val Thorens, Thomas finally revealed his talent climbing his first podium just ahead of the Freeride World Champion 2008, Henrik Windstedt (SWE). The favorite, Aurelien Ducroz, current leader of the Freeride World Ranking, unfortunately fell after a perfect start.

In the women’s snowboard competition, Geraldine Fasnacht (SUI), winner of the Nissan Xtreme de Verbier several times, made her comeback with a great victory. Granted a Wild Card after a knee injury in 2008, this snowboarder from Verbier chose the perfect line. She won ahead of Susan Mol (USA), winner of the Nissan Tram Face that took place just a few days ago in Squaw Valley USA.

First Freeride World Tour victories for skiers Matthias Haunholder and Caroline Meynet & comeback for Geraldine Fasnacht Matthias Haunholder (Austria), winner of the Nissan Freeride de Tignes: “I spent a lot of time looking at the Grand Balme face, even until late last night. I knew I had to be brave to make the difference on this slope. I took a line with a landing in a steep spot, like the snowboarder Xavier de Le Rue. I was able to master the consecutive turns and jumps. I made it to the Freeride World Tour after having won a qualifier in 2008. The first stages of the Freeride World Tour gave me the confidence that allowed me to win in Tignes.”

Caroline Meynet (France), winner of the Nissan Freeride de Tignes: “This victory is simply incredible and a surprise! This is my third competition of the season; and I already climbed the podium at the Nissan Xtreme de Verbier in 2007, but I have never won. I took an unusual line that no other woman attempted. I think it was just my day!”

Geraldine Fasnacht (Switzerland), winner of the Nissan Freeride de Tignes: “The competition in Tignes was a chance for me to get ready for Verbier. I really enjoyed riding the Grand Balme. It was pretty stressful from me coming back to competition after my knee injury, but we got lots of good information from the organizers. This allowed me to define my line and have a good time. I can’t wait to get to Verbier next week. The face got a lot of snow in the past few days, so I think the upcoming competition will be awesome!”

www.FREERIDEWORLDTOUR.COM

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Whistler-Blackcomb

The Whistler Winter Arts Festival is a dynamic month of live music, aerial dance, theatre, snow sculpting, film screenings, art and photography exhibitions, and literary soirees, under the sun or under the stars. This year features free outdoor performances by famous Canadian musicians, storytelling events, original short films from BC filmmakers, an exhibition of regional art, and the return of the Canadian Snowsculpting Team in a showdown with teams from across the country!

www.whistlerblackcomb.com/

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Solden -Austria
New state-of-the-art 8-person chair lift with wind protection shields will be in operation - replacing the old Giggijoch triple chair lift.

The hourly capacity of the new mountain lift amounts to 3,700 persons
www.soelden.com/

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Alpine Meadows - Lake Tahoe
Sick & Twisted Big Air Festival
Sunday March 29, 2009
-Registration is normally from 8:30 am until 10:00 am. Practice is usually from 10:30am until 11:30am and the events are scheduled to start around noon each day.

Details:
-Helmets are required at all events!! Riders will not be allowed to participate without a helmet.
- Registration for Open Class (competing for cash!!) will be $20.
- Registration for Amateur Class (competing for gear!!) will be $10.
- Lift Tickets for participants are $54 (23-64), $39 (15-22), $8 (5-14)
-All skiers and snowboards competing in the Toyota Sick n' twisted Freestyle Tour must sign and complete all liability releases the day of the event during registration. (Anyone under the age of 18 wishing to compete must have a parent/guardian on hand at registration, the day of the event, to sign and complete all liability forms).
New This Year: The Alpine Club The all-new Alpine Resort Club is the fastest, most convenient way for skiers and riders to save at Lake Tahoe’s Alpine Meadows Resort. The Alpine Club offers the best value available for day lift tickets, mountain shopping and amenities, ski & snowboard coaching and lessons, dining, and more. •Lift Tickets - Get lift ticket pricing and order lift tickets online. •Season Passes - Alpine Meadows Season Passes are now available for purchase with fantastic prices on full & midweek passes. NEW all full passes include Homewood! X X X X X Rejoice Alpine Club members! Starting March 28th through the end of the season, you can ski & ride on an Unlimited Ticket for just $159. You must be an Alpine Club member to purchase this unbelievable deal. If you are not a club member, join for only $10 X X X X X www.skialpine.com

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Colorado Snow
Winter Park Resort
Think you have what it takes to be a ski patroller at Winter Park Resort? Ski ability try outs for the 2009-2010 season will be held March 21 or March 29. Registration is at 8 a.m. at WEST PORTAL STATION and testing will end around 1 p.m. All applicants must attend one of the session to be considered for the 2009-2010 patrol positions. Ski/tele test will be given on a variety of black diamond mogul runs. This is a physically demanding assessment on steep, extreme terrain, on variable conditions, advanced/expert skiers only. For more information including pricing, visit www.wework2play.com

Crested Butte
An extreme endurance race that links Crested Butte to Aspen. At the stroke of midnight, skiers start out over a 40-mile course that takes them from the base of Mt. Crested Butte through remote wilderness terrain, across two mountain passes and finishes at Aspen Mountain. Skiers must start, compete and finish in teams of two. For more info please call 970.349.7133 Cooper Mountain
Special Olympics Winter Games mark the culmination of the winter sports season for the 550 athletes who annually participate in Alpine Skiing, Cross Country skiing, Figure Skating, Snowshoeing and Snowboarding. This season marks the 21st consecutive year Copper Mountain will host the event. Copper is proud to be the official winter training site for all Colorado-based winter Special Olympics athletes as well as the official host for the Winter Games through 2010.

A-Basin is called "The Legend." Legendary steeps on East Wall and off Pallavicini lift, legendary views from the Continental Divide and legendary Spring "beach scene" and events like music concerts and rail jams. A-Basin has one of the longest seasons in Colorado, opening in late October and closing in June, as well as some of the best terrain in the state. Be sure you check out A-Basin's newest expansion, Montezuma Bowl, with over 400-acres of new chutes, glades, cornices, and wide-open bowls.

Steamboat
Base Elevation 6900 feet / 2103 meters
Summit Elevation 10568 feet / 3221 meters
Vertical Drop 3668 feet / 1118 meters

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, -With an extra half-hour of skiing and riding, incredible Colorado bluebird sunny days and hilariously events, spring is shining a whole lot brighter in Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A.® this April as the resort launches its new $99 Springalicious 3-Day Pass and $149 Springalicious 12-Day Pass. $99 & $149 APRIL PASSES MAKE STEAMBOAT SPRINGALICIOUS
Free Concerts in Gondola Square

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band may technically only be comprised of three people, but their name is no misnomer. Although the family-based act— which is comprised of finger style guitarist Reverend Peyton, his wife and washboard player Breezy Peyton and drummer/brother Jayme Peyton—have only been around for three years, these country-blues aficionados from rural Indiana have played more than 250 shows annually and logged more miles on their van than most acts who have been around for a decade. “We end up playing with a lot of punk rock bands and any kind of roots acts from bluegrass to alt-country to rockabilly to you name it,” the Reverend himself answers when asked what a typical Big Damn Band performance is like, “we’ll play with anyone, really.”

www.steamboat.com www.coloradoski.com

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Squaw Valley - Ca
At the spring skiing & riding capital you'll find the only lifts turning this weekend in Lake Tahoe servicing the best terrain around Lake Tahoe, miles of California corn snow! The weather is just right during the day and cool at night! 3 stellar terrain parks are serviced by the High Camp Chair!

East Face of KT-22 Squaw Valley last weekend

Purchase Squaw Valley Lift Tickets & Lessons
www.squaw.com

Swiss Budget Hotels
Over 200 hotels in 150 cities throughout Switzerland -
more than 10'000 beds - booking
www.rooms.ch

Mt Hood Meadows
OPEN
SNO-KONA POND SKIM APRIL Get ready for it - the 3nd annual Pond Skim is coming up, presented by Kona Brewing and All About Hawaii Travel. Watch intrepid skiers and snowboarders attempt to cross the 80 - 90 foot pond decked out in Polynesian garb.

www.skihood.com

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